How Much Do You Actually Know About Woodworking?

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
How Much Do You Actually Know About Woodworking?
Image: Os Tartarouchos/ Moment/ Getty Images

About This Quiz

At first glance, woodworking might look like a job. After all, it requires the use of tools, the investment of time and years of experience to really master the ins and outs of the trade. However, all of these requirements are also present in painting. Leonardo da Vinci might have been born with some talent, but he didn't just pick up a paintbrush and become a master. He had to work for years with the tools necessary to create an artwork. 

Woodworking is not much different that painting. It's an art that provides the artist with a way of expressing themselves through the construction of a wooden object, be it a table, a chest, a bench or whatever other items the artist wants to invest their time in making. There are proper ways to go about woodworking that are universal, but in the end, there's no right way for a product to look when it's finished. That's up to the woodworker, the artist overseeing the project. 

How well do you know the standards of the craft? Some of these standards have been around since ancient times, while others have progressed with time. Can you prove that you're familiar with them all? 

If you believe you've already mastered woodworking or just want a brush-up on the trade, give this quiz a shot and see if you can carve your way to a perfect score.

35. termites
ilbusca/ E+ / Getty Images
Insects are major pest for any woodworker. Identify the insect that eats wood to survive.
Fleas
Termites
Spiders
Mosquitoes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The most common termites found inside homes are drywood termites, which do not require moisture to survive. These insects are capable of tunneling into homes, where they can tear through wallpaper, plastic or fabrics to get to the wood they desire.

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18. sand
Mara Ohlsson/ Cultura / Getty Images
When the wood has been cut and attached, are you familiar with the next step necessary for getting rid of splinters?
Sanding
Carving
Polishing
Treating
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's important to note that sandpaper is divided into open-coat sandpaper and closed-coat sandpaper. Open-coat sandpaper is best for wood as it allows the particles to disperse instead of filling with dust from the material, while closed-coat sandpaper gets clogged much easier.

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30. vanish
Morsa Images/ DigitalVision / Getty Images
Name the coating that goes on a finished piece of wood to protect if from scratches and stains.
Polish
Coating
Varnish
Burnish
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Unlike paint, a varnish won't cover the grain of the wood as you might expect. Instead, the coating soaks into the wood while preserving the wood's natural color and providing a protective layer from external conditions.

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11. red
billnoll/ E+ / Getty Images
Some trees like the oak come in different colors. Are you familiar with the color that oak can be ordered in?
Green oak
Yellow oak
Brown oak
Red oak
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Red oaks can be found across eastern and central North America from Georgia to Canada. These trees are distinguished by their bark, which has stripes down the center that extend all the way down the trunk.

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28. eye
lovro77/ E+ / Getty Images
Identify the most appropriate eyewear to use when operating a saw.
Sunglasses
Facemask
Welding shield
Safety glasses
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

On a yearly basis, around 300,000 people are sent to the emergency room due to an eye injury at the workplace. Usually, protective glasses aren't being worn at all when these injuries occur, but occasionally the eyewear doesn't fit properly or isn't being worn the right way.

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20. sand
Tom Merton/ OJO Images / Getty Images
What factor does the grain play when it comes to sanding a piece of wood?
Always sand against the grain.
Always sand with the grain.
Sand both directions over the grain.
Ignore the grain.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you try to sand across the grain, you'll notice that the wood fibers tear apart, revealing scratches caused by the sandpaper. However, sanding with the grain allows any scratches to be hidden by the grain of the wood, making the surface look much more polished.

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9. pine
Emilija Manevska/ Moment / Getty Images
Can you identify the wood that's not considered a hardwood?
Mahogany
Walnut
Pine
Oak
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Evergreen trees with needles that remain on them year-round, pines come in many different sizes depending on the species of tree. Some pines only stand about 10 feet tall while others reach over 200 feet in height.

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34. ebony
yasinguneysu/ E+ / Getty Images
What's the name for the darkest-colored wood used in woodworking?
Bubinga
Basswood
Sapele
Ebony
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Because of its dark color, ebony timber is in high demand, but the trees are slow growing. With the demand exceeding the production, most species of ebony timber fall into one of the categories between threatened to critically endangered.

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3. drill
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Do you know the best tool to use when it comes to drilling holes in wood?
Cordless drill
Screwdriver
Saw
Carver
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Electric hand drills date back to the 19th century. The first portable hand drill was created in Germany in 1895 by Wilhelm & Carl Fein. Black & Decker later added a pistol grip, making the portable drill useable by a single person.

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25. angle
John Howard/ DigitalVIsion / Getty Images
Are you familiar with the most common angle used to create a miter joint, which takes quite a bit of precision with a saw?
30 degrees
45 degrees
60 degrees
90 degrees
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The most common miter joint you might see on a regular basis is a picture frame. Picture frames are joined at the edges with 45-degree angles, which is typically true whether they are made out of wood or another material.

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31. stain
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Though both can benefit a finished project, do you know the difference between a wood stain and varnish?
A wood stain prevents rotting.
A wood stain provides color.
A wood stain protects against the sun.
A wood stain protects against warping.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A wood stain can provide coloring to wood, but it's not the same as paint. Paint has the tendency to wear quicker, particularly if it's used on walking areas like decks, where a wood stain last longer without needing maintenance, saving money in the long run.

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15. constr
ChuckSchugPhotography/ E+ / Getty Images
Which type of wood is constructed from wood fiber and a binding agent?
Concrete wood
Composite wood
Bonded wood
Construction wood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Composite wood became a viable option for decking in the '90s, but the early generations of the product didn't resemble real wood in color and texture. By the third generation, these problems were largely fixed, but the price of the wood also went up with the quality.

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1. surface
skynesher/ E+ / Getty Images
If you're trying to create a safe workspace, which of the following is absolutely necessary?
Multiple extension cords running around
A stable work surface
An enclosed room
A bucket of water
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you're just getting started in woodworking, two sawhorses and a sheet of wood will provide enough of a workspace for most projects. A workspace like this will save money because workbenches cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

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26. tongue
Dorling Kindersley: John Spence / Getty Images
If you're trying to join wood together to make a flat surface, such as in flooring, which type of joint is commonly used?
Tongue-and-groove joint
Lap joint
Dado joint
Finger joint
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Handheld routers or table routers are the most common method used today to create a tongue-and-groove joint. The router is fit with bits that perfectly match one another, allowing for a snug fit on the finished product.

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13. maple
Enn Li Photography/ Moment / Getty Images
Maple wood is commonly used in bowling alleys for what reason?
It doesn't dent easily.
It doesn't scratch easily.
It's excellent against humidity.
It's excellent against heat.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Evident by its name, the maple tree is used for the production of maple syrup, with sugar maples, black maples and red maples being the most common for this purpose. Of those trees, the sugar maple's sap has the highest sugar content.

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24. dowel
Difydave/ E+ / Getty Images
When you drill holes into each piece of wood then fit them together with pegs, it's called what?
Lap joint
Dado joint
Miter joint
Dowel joint
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dowel joints are beneficial because the pegs, or dowels, are much thicker than nails or screws. This thickness creates a sturdier joint that is less likely to break or warp with time.

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22. paint
Virojt Changyencham/ Moment / Getty Images
Latex paint has one major benefit over oil-based paint. Do you know what it is?
It goes on easier.
It's easier to clean.
It only takes one coat.
It holds up well.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Traditionally, rubber was used in latex paints as the resin of the paint while water was used as the thinner. Most paints that currently carry the title of "latex" are actually acrylic latex, which means they contain a plastic resin rather than a rubber one.

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23. butt joint
Gary Ombler / Getty Images
Can you name the type of joint that pieces wood together edge to edge?
Butt joint
Miter joint
Lap joint
Tongue and groove joint
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gluing butt joints together at 90-degree angles creates a problem as the glue doesn't stick well to the end grain. However, this type of joint can work well when boards are placed side by side if the appropriate amount of clamping pressure is applied.

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14 pine
F.J. Jiménez/ Moment / Getty Images
If you're looking for a cheap wood, pine might be the best option, but do you know its downside?
It's extremely heavy.
It's hard to work with.
It's not weatherproof.
It's hard to stain because of the dark color.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lovers of sunlight, pine trees grow in spaced-out forest where the sunlight can hit the forest floor. With over 100 species, the pine tree is the most common coniferous tree found across the world.

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4. jigsaw
fotostorm/ E+ / Getty Images
A jigsaw is often the best tool for making cuts because it uses which type of saw blade?
Rip blade
Crosscut blade
Nail cutting blade
Reciprocating blade
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sewing machines were the inspiration for the first jigsaw when the needle for a sewing machine was replaced by a saw blade. This innovation was made by Albert Kaufmann in 1946 while he was working for Scintilla AG.

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2. power
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Hand tools have been around for centuries to make woodworking possible, but what other type of tools make woodworking easier today?
Heavy tools
Electric tools
Power tools
Motor tools
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

For the longest time, power tools required cords to provide them with a power source because batteries couldn't produce the necessary energy to power these tools efficiently for a large project. Now, there are tons of cordless power tools that are both lighter and safer to use.

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10. bent
Alistair Berg/ DigitalVision / Getty Images
Ash wood is a great hardwood when it comes to which of the following uses?
Creating bent furniture
Exposure to moisture
Easy sanding
Non-perishable
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Found from Europe to North America to Asia, ash trees come in a variety of species that belong to the family Oleaceae. These trees produce a fruit known as samara, which are easily transported by the wind to a new area for a tree to grow.

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29. shirt
Portra/ DigitalVision / Getty Images
Inappropriate clothing can often result in injuries. Can you determine what's considered appropriate to wear?
Loose clothing
Wristwatches
Short-sleeve shirt
Sandals
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's important when working with power tools to keep any loose clothing or accessories away from the mechanisms of the tools. That means either wearing a short-sleeve shirt or rolling up the sleeves of a longer shirt will protect your arms from getting snagged in a machine.

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6. circular
apomares/ E+ / Getty Images
How familiar are you with the biggest benefit of using a circular saw?
They don't require much experience.
They won't bother your neighbor.
The cuts are much more exact.
You can easily turn them.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Circular saws, which have a variety of blade sizes made of different materials, are capable of cutting several materials aside from wood. These materials include various metals from tin to steel, making circular saws extremely useful in construction.

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8. dark
Yevgen Romanenko/ Moment / Getty Images
Aside from its density, what's one thing that traditionally separates a hardwood from a softwood?
It's lighter in color.
It's darker in color.
It easily burns.
It doesn't last as long.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though there are some evergreens that fall into this category, hardwood lumber typically comes from deciduous trees. These trees have leaves that are shed as winter approaches only to grow them back in the spring.

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17. drill
danchooalex/ E+ / Getty Images
To save time and potentially money, you should do what before putting in a screw?
Wet the wood
Partially hammer in the screw
Start with a screwdriver
Drill a pilot hole
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wood has the potential to split or crack, and that's no different when it comes to putting in screws. To avoid these problems, which might force you to restart, drill a pilot hole through both pieces of wood. Without a pilot hole, small cracks can easily split further, destroying a joint in the process.

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7. soft wood
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The type of wood you use is one of the most crucial parts of woodworking. Name the type of wood that produces seeds without coverings.
Softwood
Hardwood
Lightwood
Heavywood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The vast majority of the world's lumber, around 80 percent, comes from softwood sources. This type of timber is created from conifer trees, which means the trees have leaves that are shaped like needles. Softwood trees are gymnosperms, which means they produce seeds without any coverings.

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32. carpen
Jesper Mattias/ Cultura / Getty Images
How do you define wood that's used primarily for building and carpentry?
Timber
Plank
Indigenous
Woodland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are many benefits of using timber in the construction world, like its ability to provide natural insulation. However, its greatest attribute might be the fact that it's a renewable resource that can be regrown with time.

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5. handsaw
Compassionate Eye Foundation/Siri Stafford/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
Some of the best woodworkers stick to tradition and still use handsaws. However, why wouldn't they use them?
They're cheap.
They're quiet.
They're easier to transport.
They're quick to use.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There's a reason that innovation led to power saws: because handsaws took time and energy to use. However, benefits like price and portability are major reasons handsaws have remained relatively unchanged for thousands of years and are still used today.

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21. mortise
Dorling Kindersley/ Getty Images
To join two pieces of wood at 90 degrees, a tenon fits into which of the following?
Dovetail
Butt
Mortise
Dowel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The mortise and tenon joint has been a popular woodworking technique for thousands of years. There's evidence that shows how the ancient Romans used the technique in both wood and stonework to build temples, houses, forts and walls.

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27. dovetail
BanksPhotos/ E+ / Getty Images
Cut into a trapezoidal shape, what's the name of the part of the board that interlocks with the "tails" in a dovetail joint?
The locks
The pegs
The pins
The clamps
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The dovetail joint can be traced back to ancient Egypt, which shows just how useful it is in woodworking. In Egypt, the dovetail joint was used in the tombs of mummies as early as the first dynasty.

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33. holly
Prasert Krainukul/ Moment / Getty Images
Which of the following terms is used as a name for the lightest-colored wood?
Holly
Olive
Fir
Juniper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Holly timber is so pale in color that the grain pattern is almost nonexistent, which can either be a benefit or a negative depending on the look you're going for. To preserve this coloring, the timber is typically cut in the winter and immediately dried so it doesn't develop a fungus.

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16. ply
Tuomas Lehtinen/ Moment / Getty Images
A strong piece of manufactured wood, identify the wood type that layers together pieces of wood veneer.
Fibreboard
MDF
Particle board
Plywood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Plywood is made out of both hardwood and softwood, though the process for making the plywood is still the same. To make the wood, the layers of veneer are rotated 90 degrees to help save the board from warping.

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19. orbital
EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER/ E+ / Getty Images
There are various ways to go about sanding, each with its own benefit. Select the benefit of using an orbital sander.
It's not powered.
They cover ground faster than a belt sander.
They can get in corners.
They won't scratch the wood.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of the most common mistakes people make when using an orbital sander is that they move too quickly across the surface. Unlike hand sanding, orbital sanders should be adjusted about an inch per second, which really is like creeping across the wood.

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12. mahogany
John Seaton Callahan/ Moment / Getty Images
Along with its high price tag, why wouldn't you use mahogany in one of your projects?
It doesn't hold its shape.
It needs to be treated.
It's not durable in most conditions.
It's hard to work with.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Enjoying wet and dry tropical forests, there are three species of mahogany found throughout South America and Mexico. This wood doesn't splinter easily but requires a good cleaning and a special treatment to make it last.

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You Got:
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